Finding out your home has high radon levels has you concerned for your family’s health. Radon is a radioactive gas that is flavorless, odorless and is capable of seeping into your home through cracks in your house’s foundation. This toxic gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer, second to smoking. You know you need to have installed a radon mitigation system but you have questions, of course. What system for radon gas removal will work for your type of home and how does it work? Since every home is different, the type of system you will need depends on size and type of house foundation you have. In this article, we will be discussing the sub-slab suction method of removing radon.
Active sub-slab suction, also known as sub-slab depressurization, is the most widely-used method due to its reliability. The technique consists of inserting one or more suction pipes through the floor slab onto the soil underneath or below the concrete slab from outside of your house. Although only one suction point is usually needed, more may be necessary depending on the strength of the radon source or how easily air can move through the soil under the slab.
An experienced contractor who specializes in radon gas removal will have all the experience and tools necessary to perform a diagnostic test and install a system that can get rid of up to 99 percent of radon from your home. Radon gas from below your home will be sucked through the suction pipes by a radon vent fan and released into the outdoor air. This process will simultaneously create negative pressure or a vacuum under the slab.
Passive sub-slab suction is almost the same as active sub slab suction, but depends on natural pressure differentials and air currents instead of a fan. Passive sub-slab suction is a feature usually offered on newly constructed homes but not as effective in reducing radon levels as active sub-slab suction.
Whatever you and your contractor agree on what’s best for your home and situation, it is important that this is a project you don’t try to do on your own. It is possible to cause more cracks in the slab and unknowingly release even more radon into your home.
Use an experienced professional and get the job done right, your health is too important not to.
